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One of the most enjoyable parts of a wedding is
at the reception. It’s a time to eat, drink and be merry, while celebrating
with your loved ones. But before you begin planning your menu, consider the
ages, dietary needs, food likes and dislikes of your guests. You can get a
general idea of a guest’s food preferences by asking them to indicate on the
wedding response card what they like.
Be sure to discuss your meal options with your caterer and become familiar with
the ingredients in the food. If possible, work with a caterer familiar with many
dietary needs. Tell the chef if you need many special foods, or just one or two
items. Remember, you can’t please everyone, but you need to make sure there
are plenty of things available that everyone can enjoy. Whether you are having a
buffet luncheon or a sit down dinner, here are some points to consider:
1. Vegetarians. There are two types of Vegetarians: those who will eat
some animal products, and those that will not. A sure way to please everyone is
to offer fruit and vegetable platters as part of the meal. Dips made without
dairy products and light hors devours such as cucumber sandwiches are a light
and tasty treat. Vegetable soup or bouillon and lush salads are also good ideas.
2. Diabetics. Diabetic people usually have very strict diets, and must
watch their sugar intake. While it is possible to have a sugar free wedding
cake, another alternative for your Diabetic guests is a choice of sugar free
desserts such as gelatin or fresh fruit and cheese.
3. The Elderly and Children. Older people have vastly different tastes
from children. While your kid brother would probably love a reception table full
of pizza and nachos, your grandparents might not.
Some elderly people may be Diabetic, on salt restricted diets, or have a tough
time chewing hard foods. Some kids may be too little to eat foods such as grapes
(a choking hazard). So how do you find a happy medium? If you are offering a sit
down dinner, you can give your guests a choice between meals that are “kid
friendly” or “adult friendly.” Your caterer probably makes meals specific
to each age group, such as spaghetti for kids and a meat dish for adults.
Inquire about salt free meals, soft foods, and recommendations for children’s
fare. If your caterer can’t provide what you want, consider bringing in treats
from another source as a backup plan. If you are hosting a buffet or heavy hors
devours, you can pick and choose as many items as you want (and that fits your
budget). So feel free to have those nachos, if you want them!
4. Religious Diet Needs. If your guest requires a kosher meal, find out
what your caterer can provide for them. There should be many choices available.
Again, working with a caterer familiar with special dietary needs will be
helpful.
These tips should help you, but they should not make you worry about making
everyone happy! It is impossible to know the likes and dislikes of every person
present, and even if you did, wasting time and energy trying to please everyone
will only end up pleasing no one. Think about the types of foods that you enjoy,
and have them available. By offering a variety of choices and doing some advance
research, you will have a lovely reception!
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